and was it barack obama trying to do, mark. >> i think barack obama was reflecting the reality of the polls, that it's been slipping and heading in the other direction, trying to change the trajectory of the race. i thought he made a strong case against mitt romney. he was obviously not hesitating to go personal upon him. i agree with david, they felt they had to disagree even though there wasn't disagreement. but one thing they didn't disagree on was the argue over who cares more and loves israel more. i got 22 mentions of israel, 0 of europe, 0 of asia, other than china. japan went unmentioned. india went unmentioned. you know. >> ifill: you start the list, to you go to mexico, every -- >> the entire north american continent. >> mali had a very good night. >> it came up several times. >> woodruff: david, it did seem to me that mitt romney had a clear strategy of not trying to get-- not only not get rattled, but to be agreeable, to be as you said a minute ago, presidential, above the fray. i think i counted at least three or four times where he said stepping back here, to take a bigg